Honolulu Hale, Honolulu (must see)

Honolulu Hale is the official seat of government for the city and county of Honolulu. Originally, Honolulu was overseen by a Board of Supervisors. During the existence of the County of O'ahu, the Board met in city halls all around Honolulu. When this system was discontinued in 1907, Joseph J. Fern was created the Mayor of the City & County of Honolulu. He envisioned a central building for government administrative activities, but passed away before the building he imagined could be constructed. Fortunately, his successor, Mayor John H. Wilson, agreed with his vision and carried it out.

Honolulu Hale was build in the Italianate Spanish Colonial Revival Style that was popular on Hawaii during the 20s. It was a labor of love for every big name architect in the area, including Robert Miller, Hart Wood, C.W. Dickey, and Rothwell, Kangeter, & Lester. The building itself was designed to mimic the Palazzo del Popolo in Florence, Italy. The interior décor includes hand-painted frescoes by Einar Peterson, and intricate stonework by Mario Valdastri. The word “Hale” translates to “house” in native Hawaiian. The name “Honolulu Hale” simply means “Honolulu House,” though it would be more correctly rendered as “Hale Honolulu.”

This sight is featured in a self-guided walking tour in Honolulu, Hawaii, in the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" which can be downloaded on iTunes App Store or Google Play. Please download the app to your mobile phone or tablet for travel directions for visiting this sight. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline so no data plan is needed.

Walking Tours in Honolulu, Hawaii

Creating your own self-guided walk in Honolulu is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Hickham Air Force Base was opened in 1935 and named after Lieutenant Colonel Horace Meek Hickam. The air force base began operations three years later and in 1941 the first bombers arrived there. In 1980, this site was declared a National Historic Landmark for its high importance during World War II. Today, it is of huge importance in the history of the U.S. Take the Hickam Air Force Base Tour and get a feel for the true World War II experience.

The Hawaiian Kai region is especially attractive for two reasons: Koko Head Park and Hanauma Bay. Today, the entire area has been developed, but without harming the picturesque landscape. Here, you can rent a boat, take diving lessons, or simply take a walk. The self-guided tour through Kai is a perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital city, so we encourage you to take it.

Religion in Hawaii is a mix of Christianity, Buddhism and native religions. This is the reason why diverse religious structures, such as shrines or catholic churches can be seen everywhere in Honolulu. Since 1820, the Christian missionaries and Chinese began to popularize their religion and traditions. Nowadays, the ancient Hawaiian religions have almost disappeared. Take this walking tour and enjoy the religious sights of Honolulu, both modern and historic.

The Capitol District represents a historic area in downtown Honolulu. This civic center includes the biggest majority of governmental buildings at federal, state and city levels. The district is situated among Richards Street, Ward Avenue, Vineyard Boulevard and Nimitz Highway. Some of the largest buildings in the city are located here. Take this walking tour and enjoy the treasures of historic Honolulu.

Downtown Honolulu is a treasure trove for those, who seek the nineteenth century architectural gems. The district is full of historic buildings showcasing a distinctive Hawaiian style. This style is characterized by a mixture between Western influence and local culture. We encourage you to take this tour and discover the most significant buildings of Honolulu.

Honolulu's Harbor is the main historic seaport of Hawaii. It is called Kulolia or Ke Awa O Kou, by native Hawaiians. It is situated on Mamala Bay and was the area that contributed most to the urbanization of the island. This self-guided tour will take you all the way down from Honolulu's Harbor to the Ala Moana Beach, and along Honolulu's beautiful coastline.

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

Pineapples, surfing, flower garlands and colorful shirts are the most distinct things coming to mind in association with Hawaii. Still, when it's time to go leisurely-pleasurely in the remotest part of the United States, it is good to know what is there exactly worth picking up in Honolulu, as...

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Self-guided walking tours apps on iOS and Android for exploring cities on foot - they make bus tours obsolete!